The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-09-24

and made her almost hate her uncle.
"Why, cousin Belle" said Mary,
"do not be distressed, we will not sut'
fer. We can take u school, and sup
port ourselves handsomely. The hos
pital is grand enterprise, and hope
| we may visit it. 1 will impress it up
| on the minds Of the inmates that dear
Uncle Joe built it for their benefit, and
ii will do me good TO see their express
| sion of gratitude. 1 don't know but !
| will be a nurse in it
"But why wait TIL the hospital is
built?" suddenly asked Uncle Joe.
"You can find a. least one patient
without going very far
'sI do not understand YOU" said
| Mary,
"Why, the Doctor told me, awhile
ago, that l have heart disease, and !
| may die any moment. l must have
| some one who is more watchful than
my black servant, John. i want some
body to stay with me nearly all the
time. Now which one of you will
volunteer to be my nurse:' gazing
alternately at them.
80, Uncle joe" exclaimed Mary
involuntariy claspins her hands with
| mingled feelings of gladness and sorrow
81 will, for one. l wonder why you
! never thought of ii before? | think it
will also afford Cousin Belle pleasure
,oo?' turning toward her.
81 would be glad to do So" replied
Belle in voice tinged with reproch,
"but L shall now be forced TO seek
some sort of work in order to live. !
shall have to support mama Also
81 am not dead ye;,' said Uncle Joe
with II half-amuscd expression. "Dont
climb the hill till you reach it,
s'No,' said Belle plainly manifest
ing veXation, Which she wanted her
uncle to see, "but I must get accus-
| soon as possible. l know l shall have
a hard time, but lmust do something."
"Why, Bell,' said her Uncle, speak
ing more kindly than was his wont,
81 thought you would be glad to see the
poor cripplcs assisted
$50 am, Uncle, but l cannot see
the necessity of reducing your only
relatives to want in order to aid peo-
pie who will never care for you.''
"WeIl,' said Uncle Zoe, ~ don't wish
to hold out inducements to my rela-
tives to hate me and wish mo dead"
"Why, Uncle Joe,' said Mary re-
proachfully, "what makes you talk
so: Who wants you TO die?''
"My relations might, if they
knew 1 had willed my property to
| them answered the old man bluntly.
"I do not want your property" re.
piled Mary, "but l do feel sorry for
Cousin Belle. You might have left
her in independent circumstances at
least. She had q right to expect that
much and l know your decision
must he a great disappointment TO
her."
Belle, to emphasize what her cousin
had said, assumed an air Of injured in
n0cence, and looked like n prosecuted
saint-a character which she had sud
denly resolved to act as the most effect
i've way of working upon her unclc's
sympa,hies.
90, Uncle" exclaimed Belle in an
outburst of emotion, and tears coming
down her checks, "what have l done
to incur your disp'easure? What makes
you treat mo in this way? The in,
kindness of your deed hurts me more
than than the idea Of losing your prop.
erty.''
~ ~
child. But i know you as well AS you
know yourself. If / were TO leave you
all my money, you would run through
it in n few years, and you'd be worse
| off than you now arc.'
go, Uncle" cried Belle raising her
hands derrecatingiy, "you are cruel TO
talk 70 me in this way. You treat mo
as if / were hcatilcss' -
"Lot us say no more about it, am
swercd Uncle Joe. / desire to see you
girls start OF III life before / die.
have a position for one Of you, which
VIII pay thirty dollars month. Which
one Of you VIII be my nurse?''
"What do you say, Belle" asked
Mary.
"l'm such poor nurse" replied
Belle, 81 fear ! could not give satisfac-
ton. Besides, Uncle, you can get an
experienced nurse for loss money.
Mary aud ] know nothing about such
matters
An expression Of painful disappoint.
ment passed over the invalid'4 wrink-
led face.
sL.et Mary speak Tor herself" said
Uncle Joe bluntly.
81 Will undertake it gladly, Uncle, -
answered Mary, 'if you can br satisfied
with my poor services
every well, then; you begin at 0Ucc.
Belle can go home, and have you!
trunk, and whatever else you want
sent here Immediately"
Belle accordingly took her leave, aud